Thank you for all the wonderful recommendations! I asked because I’m trying to level up my writing and was curious why other people find moving and interesting. Last week I started listening to an audiobook of “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” (by Gail Honeyman) which was listed as one of the best books of 2017 and I got curious. I mean, one day, I want to sell a book too; I need to know what people are willing to pay money for, right? I need to learn how to write a proper drama from people who succeeded! … I’m still as lost as I was before I listened to this book. I admit it shuffling my feet in discomfort — it was just boring for me. Did any of you read that one? I’m curious if anyone felt differently.

Other than that I tried extra hard at Japanese this week and I plan to continue. Managed to move forward with the Historia project too! Yey! Two beautiful CGs got finished and I sketched out another one with a bunch of expressions variants. Good stuff. I really hope we can one path by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed guys!

20 comments on “Julia’s confession”

Thank you for all the wonderful recommendations! I asked because I’m trying to level up my writing and was curious why other people find moving and interesting.

In that case, I could also recommend a book like “The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories” by Christopher Booker, which I found a really interesting read (aside from the psycho-babble chapters at the end). As you might surmise from the title, it discusses commonalities of plots between a great many books. It gave me a whole new insight and appreciation of stories.
A similarly sort of book which I haven’t yet read, but which I have on my list is “Elements of Surprise : Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot”, by Vera Tobin. (If you decide to read it before me, let me know if it’s any good 😛 )

Mm-HMM. Okay, Julia, first of all, you might have shown him a trick or few, but it was Adam Levicky who chose how to use what he had learned. Remember that distinction; it’s important. Second, that doesn’t leave you utterly blameless; every teacher has a duty to understand how her students will most likely apply their knowledge before she teaches them something dangerous (a fact which, if it had been observed more rigorously in my own time, would have made events a bit less exciting for several of my teachers — my mind grew in capabilities long before my responsibility did).

However, that much said, I would like to point out that there is a world of difference between someone sharing knowledge with a promising student and a student using that knowledge to commit genocide. In the end, my dear, you may be guilty of the misdemeanor of sharing a little too much, but Adam,… I’m not even sure his actions constitute a mere felony, any more. Attempting to eradicate the entire human species is a crime beyond any statute; it is, fundamentally, unimaginable in its scope and magnitude. It is a crime for which there is no fit punishment. It may be a crime for which there is even no fit remedy; Adam’s death might not annull the agreement he has made with the demon. Let’s not begrudge Mr. Levicky the full consequences of choices, shall we?

I’m not sure Adam intended to wipe out humanity (or its equivalent in this universe). He definitely made a pact with entities for whom that was high on the goal list, and didn’t disagree, but that does not imply it was his goal in and of itself.

Also HOORAY! This mission appears to have been a bit more successful than anyone could have predicted.

Adam’s death might not repair the damage, but it might render the deal void, leading to the demons leaving again. Or maybe some part of the pact includes that the demons can or have to leave for some reason and need to take Adam with them.

Interesting reveal. Let’s see if she can help them and/or tell them what Adam’s whole deal is.

I didn’t read that Eleanor book, but judging from the Wikipedia plot synopsis it could be a good drama story for people who don’t want fantasy elements or humor in-between. I just thought “of course she’s awkward because she was abused.” and “of course she has an alcohol problem”, because what else could her background possibly be if you write a mainstream drama novel?
I don’t see why you would want to learn from that genre. I prefer the drama you get e.g. in One Piece, especially the old arcs about Nami (Fishmen Island) or Vivi (Alabastar). Peru/Pell’s sacrifice made me cry. And the moment when chopper saw the Sakura clouds was so touching as well. Do you remember Episode 2 of Great Teacher Onizuka, where he trashed the wall? I also enjoyed the drama in Noir (cute girl has amnesia and suffers from being able to kill people withouth hesitation) and the drama/comedy in Full Metal Alchemist (oh lord that dog/daughter chimera >_<). Anime is SO much more intense and so much more diverse than the mainstream stuff.

Your style is very anime-ish and you're mixing humor and drama nicely as well, so in my opinion you should stick to that. I mean, aren't you living in Japan anyway? Or do you intend to return eventually? And since you are already near the top of TWC (and sometimes right at the top) I think you have already succeeded in writing properly.

To be fair, there is a difference how you write drama in a novel to how you write it in a manga. Visuals are way more inportant in a manga. Just look at the Scene, where the Straw Hats declare war on the World Government, to save Robin. That shot where all of them stand in a line works way better in a manga than it would work in a book.

Yeah, that’s a fair point, too. I just couldn’t think of novel example off the top of my hat. Novel-wise I mainly read Discworld stuff and the six Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books in the last decade, and they’re not heavy on the drama side. They have occasional scenes that are very very touching, too, but it’s one of many ingredients. E.g. in Carpe Jugulum, the witch Granny Wheatherwax thought they didn’t invite her to the royal wedding despite being on good terms, but actually a Magpie stole the invitation, because of all the glitter on the envelope, and the royal couple even named their baby after her. And that made Granny go for a hail-mary fight against a bunch of vampires who had invaded the kingdom and had already bested her in a previous fight. The whole build-up and resolve of that chapter was so well done.

As it was mentioned Regis Earsquake there’s a bit of a difference between writing a decent manga and writing a publishable book. Plus there’s no harm in trying to improve, ever. But I suppose I should have said it that way from the start – be it a book or a manga I’ll welcome any recommendation both for my own entertainment and for study! So thanks, I actually avoided a bunch of the titles you mentioned and probably done myself a huge disservice.

There is sooooo much stuff to read and watch that you can’t be expected to consume it all, especially when you’re working as hard as you do. I am curious in what ways you’re going to improve and what kind of book you’ll end up writing. Since you found that Eleanor book boring, too, I’ll stick to my advice to stray from the mainstream with its beatings and alcohol as there are so many different backgrounds you can give to your characters instead. The market might be smaller, but I think that goes for both demand and supply.

Now that I thought about it some more, I also read the Chaos Gods series from Aneeka Richins (author of the Not A Villain webcomic). The setting is quite dystopian, I like the type of drama her characters are going through as well and there’s occasional comedy to lighten the mood as well. My only point of critique is that the characters tend to stand on each others’ feet a bit too much, slowing down the story, especially in the 3rd book, but all in all I enjoyed reading the books. I even spellchecked them, so the electronic versions should have fewer errors in them by now.

If you need spellcheckers for your novel, too, you could include it in a kickstarter tier, e.g. everyone who pays enough to preorder the book gets to read all the beta versions.

Well, if Julia works with them to set things right, at least more right than they are now, they might not need the printout as much (but it may hold some more secrets) and Ada is relieved of witchcraft teaching duty.
On the other hand, Julia might not be welcomed with open arms if she reveals she taught the destroyer of the world basically how to do it. Depending on the more or less tragic backstory, Laura might still be friendly to her.